Human rights are a set of principles concerned with equality and fairness. They are not a recent invention – ideas about people’s rights and responsibilities have been an important part of all societies throughout history. However, since World War II there has been a global effort to decide what these rights are and how they should be protected. The result is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was formally adopted on 10 December 1948 and has been translated into more than 500 languages.
The Declaration outlines thirty fundamental human rights and explains how they should be implemented. It is based on the premise that everyone is born free and equal in dignity and worth and that each person has the right to a life of freedom and security. It also states that those who violate these rights must be held to account by international law and that victims of human rights violations have a legitimate claim to redress before a court or other international body.
All human rights are universal: they apply to all people, everywhere in the world, at all times; they are indivisible: they cannot be split into smaller parts or treated differently from one another; and they are interdependent: the enjoyment of some human rights depends, wholly or partly, on the enjoyment of others. These are known as the three dimensions of human rights: inherent, inalienable and interrelated.
Ultimately, human rights are a way to protect the dignity and worth of every person and to ensure that all individuals can live in peace with each other and their environment. This is why they are so central to the work of UNHCR. Human rights are a fundamental principle of our work in conflict and post-conflict zones, where they help to create conditions for peace and reconciliation. For example, we work with local authorities to strengthen the rule of law and support local justice systems so that they can effectively address and prosecute human rights violators.
We also seek to raise awareness about the violations of human rights in war zones and elsewhere, so that international pressure can be exerted to ensure that laws are upheld and enforced. In some cases, we also work to build capacity for international courts and tribunals that can prosecute human rights violations.
Finally, we are dedicated to helping people reclaim their own dignity by restoring the sense of self-worth that comes from the recognition of their human rights and the responsibility to uphold them. We believe that this is the best way to bring hope and healing to individuals, communities and nations.
The key to understanding and protecting human rights is in understanding how these rights relate to each other and to the fulfilment of a person’s basic needs. These include the right to food, shelter and education. They are also related to the right to a decent income and to freedom of speech and association. The fulfillment of all these rights and fundamental freedoms is essential to human dignity.